Tesla may soon have some competition. At the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, Nissan took the wraps off the Esflow, a rear-wheel-drive electric sports car. Yes, the dramatic-looking Nissan Esflow is just a concept vehicle at this point, but it does employ proven electric vehicle technology pioneered in the company's Leaf EV production car.

The Nissan Esflow Concept has been created from the ground up as an EV sports car. As such, the aluminum-chassis 2-seater boasts two electric motors in back, each driving a rear wheel. Powered by laminated lithium-ion batteries (the same packs as in the Leaf) mounted low in the chassis to improve the vehicle's handling, the Esflow will also be quick, able to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 5 seconds, says Nissan. It's probably not as fast as the Tesla, which hits 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, but the range is impressive, pegged by Nissan at nearly 150 miles on a single charge.

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With its long hood and steeply raked wraparound windscreen, Esflow certainly looks the sporty part, a fastback with hints of classic Nissans such as the Z (and maybe even the current Mazda RX-8) in the overall shape. The occupants are seated right on the car's center of gravity, and ultra-low profile tires on six-spoke wheels complete the sporty look, complemented by a highly reflective blue paint scheme inspired by glaciers. As in the Leaf, the headlights and Nissan emblem are tinted a cool blue, while blue LEDs accentuate the futuristic front and rear lights.

Nissan says that with no internal combustion engine to worry about, its engineers were allowed to place the powertrain and batteries in locations that optimized the Esflow's performance and handling. The two electric motors are actually mounted in a mid-ship position, placed above the axis of the rear wheels. With the motors independently controlling the left and right rear wheels, the torque of each can be apportioned to maximize cornering power while ensuring outstanding vehicle stability. This is aided by the Esflow's highly centralized mass, the result of the battery packs being positioned on the front and rear axle lines.

Because the Esflow has integrated rollbars behind the cockpit that really can support the weight of the car in the event of a rollover, Nissan says the A-pillars of the car are not thick and obtrusive, like those of many modern cars. This helps give the Esflow a superb forward view, which will help the car feel more like an extension of the driver's body.

Inside, the Esflow espouses ecological minimalism, but not at the expense of luxury. The most interesting feature are seats sculpted into the rear bulkhead of the chassis to save weight. Nissan insists that they are comfortable. But what about their immobility being a problem? Not an issue, says Nissan, because the fly-by-wire steering and pedals adjust (electrically, of course) to suit individual driver size. For the record, the seats are covered in a gold leather and a perforated gold suede, while the door panels are trimmed in dark blue leather and suede.

Nissan did not supply the weight or power level of the intriguing Esflow Concept, but any car that hits 62 mph in less than 5 seconds is undoubtedly very quick. If the future is indeed electric, let's hope it's filled with more sports cars such as the rear-drive Nissan Esflow.